EEF2 / Elongation factor 2 · IHC design guide

Design Immunohistochemistry for EEF2

Plan chromogenic EEF2 IHC in paraffin sections using the catalog antibody’s documented staining conditions. Compare cytoplasmic and membranous staining across cell types, using HPA tissue IHC as the pattern reference.

Evidence assembled Oct 2026 · For research use; verify linked source records and product datasheet before use
Immunohistochemistry protocol sheet for EEF2 (IHC for EEF2): expected localisation Cytoplasmic and membranous in most tissues (HPA tissue IHC), antibody A00830-2, validated IHC image, and IHC protocol steps
Printable EEF2 IHC protocol sheet — expected localisation Cytoplasmic and membranous in most tissues (HPA tissue IHC), antibody A00830-2, controls and protocol steps. Open the full EEF2 IHC guide →

EEF2 Immunohistochemistry Experimental Design Guide

Expected localisation, validated protocols, controls and antibodies — the at-a-glance facts below, then the full design guide.

Must know before staining
Expected localisation Cytoplasmic and membranous in most tissues (HPA tissue IHC)
Staining pattern Cytoplasmic and membranous staining across many cell types (HPA tissue IHC)
Antigen retrieval EDTA pH 8.0 HIER, heat-mediated (datasheet A00830-2)
Positive control ⓘ Appendix+4 more · see all
Negative control ⓘ None in HPA (detected in all 45 tissues); use no-primary + isotype controls
Important caveats
Reasons your staining may differ from the expected pattern.
Fixation Matched tissue-IHC evidence does not establish the fixation claim. Validate the specimen-specific method before use. (selected-SKU IHC image A00830-2)
Caveat Broad staining may obscure differences between cell types (HPA tissue IHC)
Regulation No tissue-specific regulation established (HPA tissue IHC)
Isoform / epitope No annotated isoforms; cleavage may affect epitope coverage (UniProt)
Section 1

Recommended EEF2 IHC & IF Protocols

The catalog antibody’s IHC protocol (datasheet A00830-2) is accompanied by published methods for eEF2 staining (PMC4027928) and phospho-eEF2 staining (PMC5613342).

Recommended immunohistochemistry (IHC-P) protocol parameters
SampleParaffin-embedded human breast cancer tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A00830-2)
FixationImage fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A00830-2); verify before use.
Sectioning4–5 µm sections on charged slides (standard)
DeparaffinisationXylene, graded ethanol series to water (standard)
Antigen retrievalHeat retrieval: EDTA pH 8.0 (datasheet A00830-2); 20 min, 95–100 °C (standard)
Peroxidase block3% H2O2, 10 min, room temperature (standard)
Blocking10% goat serum (datasheet A00830-2)
Primary antibodyRabbit anti-EEF2, 2μg/ml (datasheet A00830-2)
Primary incubationOvernight at 4 °C (datasheet A00830-2)
DetectionStreptavidin-biotin complex (SABC), DAB chromogen (datasheet A00830-2)
CounterstainHematoxylin, blue, dehydrate and mount (standard)
Expected resultEEF2-positive staining in glandular cells of appendix (HPA tissue IHC: High). HPA tissue profile: Cytoplasmic and membranous expression in most tissues. No signal in the no-primary control.
💡Decision noteStart with EDTA pH 8.0 heat retrieval for the catalog antibody (datasheet A00830-2); the published methods specify Pascal retrieval (PMC4027928) or microwave heating (PMC5613342).
Section 2

What Is the Expected EEF2 Staining Pattern?

EEF2 should stain mainly in the cytoplasm of many cell types, with membranous staining also reported across most tissues (HPA: tissue IHC). Glandular, respiratory epithelial, hematopoietic, glial, and squamous epithelial cells provide high-staining examples (HPA: tissue IHC). HPA rates the tissue evidence Enhanced but reports only medium agreement with RNA data (HPA: reliability). EEF2 has no transmembrane segment; UniProt also lists a nuclear location (UniProt P13639: topology and location).

What am I looking at on my slide?
Cytoplasmic staining in appendix glands, with some membranous staining.This fits the reported tissue pattern and a high-staining cell population (HPA: tissue IHC). Judge localisation alongside cell identity; the HPA tissue profile describes both cytoplasmic and membranous staining.
Strong nuclear-only staining across a section, with little cytoplasmic signal.Investigate this as a possible staining artefact: HPA describes predominantly cytoplasmic and membranous tissue staining (HPA: tissue IHC). Do not dismiss every nuclear signal, since UniProt reports nuclear translocation of a C-terminal cleavage product after CSK-dependent phosphorylation (UniProt P13639: location).
Strong signal confined to smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, or adipocytes.These populations are listed as low-staining, so strong isolated signal warrants a specificity check (HPA: tissue IHC). Cross-reactivity or endogenous detection activity are possible IHC causes, not established explanations for this specimen (general IHC practice).
Colour spreads across cells and surrounding tissue without clear cell boundaries.Treat a diffuse deposit as background until controls support a cellular pattern (general IHC practice). It cannot establish the cytoplasmic or membranous localisation reported for EEF2 (HPA: tissue IHC).
No signal in appendix glandular cells or bone marrow hematopoietic cells.Either population is reported as high-staining, so absence of signal calls for a technical check before concluding EEF2 is absent (HPA: tissue IHC). HPA reports no negative tissue population in this payload (HPA: tissue IHC).
💡Expected EEF2 appearanceCall a result positive when identifiable cells show cytoplasmic staining, potentially with membranous staining, including strong signal in an HPA high-staining population such as appendix glandular cells; widespread cell-free colour is background, not a positive cellular result (HPA: tissue IHC; general IHC practice).
How each factor affects the staining
Which compartments can support an IHC call?Cytoplasmic and membranous staining are reported in most tissues (HPA: tissue IHC). EEF2 lacks a transmembrane segment (UniProt P13639: topology), so a membrane-like outline alone does not prove membrane insertion.
How should tissue intensity vary?HPA reports high staining in several epithelial and hematopoietic populations, medium staining in endometrial stromal cells, and low staining in smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and adipocytes (HPA: tissue IHC). Avoid imposing one intensity threshold on every cell type.
What does antibody validation establish?Two listed antibodies have Enhanced IHC status and one has Approved status (HPA: antibodies). The overall tissue reliability is Enhanced, with medium staining–RNA consistency (HPA: tissue IHC); these labels support interpretation but do not verify an individual slide.
How should nuclear staining be handled?UniProt lists cytoplasm and nucleus and describes nuclear translocation of a C-terminal cleavage product after CSK-dependent phosphorylation (UniProt P13639: location). The supplied evidence does not show whether the IHC antibody detects that product; review nuclear-only staining against controls.
IF/ICC: what pattern is expected?HPA reports supported cytosolic localisation and uncertain plasma-membrane localisation in ICC-IF (HPA: subcellular). Treat this as a cross-check for compartment interpretation, while assessing paraffin-section IHC against the tissue IHC profile (HPA: tissue IHC).
Why is my staining missing, weak or wrong?
SituationLikely causeNext action
An HPA high-staining control tissue has no visible cellular signal.The failed signal may reflect a run or detection problem; the supplied sources do not identify EEF2-specific fixation sensitivity (HPA: tissue IHC; general IHC practice).Check section integrity, primary-antibody exposure, detection reagents, and a working positive control; review antigen retrieval against the antibody's IHC instructions (general IHC practice).
Every structure, including cell-free areas, is brown.Non-specific detection or deposited chromogen may obscure cellular staining (general IHC practice); HPA's EEF2 profile describes staining in cells (HPA: tissue IHC).Compare a no-primary control, check blocking and washes, and shorten detection development if background dominates (general IHC practice).
High signal appears mainly in smooth muscle, fibroblasts, or adipocytes.Those populations are reported as low-staining; cross-reactivity or endogenous detection activity is possible, but the slide alone cannot distinguish them (HPA: tissue IHC; general IHC practice).Review a no-primary control and detection blocking; compare an HPA high-staining cell population on the same run before assigning specificity (HPA: tissue IHC; general IHC practice).
Only nuclei stain strongly in many cells.That differs from the dominant tissue pattern, although a nuclear EEF2 cleavage product is described by UniProt (HPA: tissue IHC; UniProt P13639: location).Check nuclear counterstain and no-primary control, then assess whether cytoplasmic signal is also present; avoid assigning the nuclear product without antibody-epitope evidence (general IHC practice; UniProt P13639: location).
The expected cells stain, but boundaries are hard to score.Overlapping chromogen and counterstain can make compartment calls uncertain (general IHC practice); both cytoplasmic and membranous staining are reported (HPA: tissue IHC).Inspect thinner or less crowded regions and adjust counterstain or detection development in a repeat run before scoring membrane-like signal (general IHC practice).
Replicate sections give different apparent intensity.The supplied HPA reliability description reports medium consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression, but does not establish the cause of run-to-run variation (HPA: reliability).Compare matched cell populations and positive controls across runs; record section, retrieval, antibody, and detection conditions before attributing a difference to EEF2 biology (general IHC practice).

Sample controls for EEF2 IHC & IF

🧪Run breast first and expect high staining in its glandular cells (HPA: breast glandular cells, High); the selected antibody also has a paraffin-section breast cancer example (A00830-2 tissue-IHC caption). HPA detects EEF2 in all 45 scored tissues, so there is no supported negative tissue or reliably EEF2-negative cell population within the positive slide; use the no-primary and isotype controls to judge background (HPA: no negative rows; detected in all 45 scored tissues).
Positive control tissue: Appendix (Glandular cells, HPA High)
Negative control tissue: None in HPA: EEF2 is detected in all 45 scored tissues. Use a no-primary (secondary-only) and an isotype control instead.
ICC-IF cell lines (HPA subcellular resource): HPA ICC-IF images show EEF2 in HEK293, U-251MG, U2OS, NIH 3T3, with annotated localisation: Plasma membrane (uncertain), Cytosol (supported) (HPA subcellular).
Technical controls: Include a no-primary, secondary-only slide and an isotype control matched to the rabbit primary antibody, plus EEF2-knockout material or a peptide-block control if available (A00830-2 tissue-IHC caption: rabbit primary; standard IHC practice). For breast sections developed with biotin-based detection and DAB, block endogenous peroxidase and assess endogenous biotin background against the controls (A00830-2 tissue-IHC caption: biotinylated secondary, SABC and DAB; standard IHC practice).
⚠️Feasibility: No target-specific fixation window or fixation effect is reported in the supplied EEF2 evidence, and the exact A00830-2 tissue-IHC caption does not report a fixative (A00830-2 tissue-IHC caption). The paraffin-section example uses heat-mediated retrieval in EDTA at pH 8.0; whether retrieval is required under other conditions is unreported (A00830-2 tissue-IHC caption). The supplied evidence does not establish that frozen sections or IF are easier; for the breast example, biotin-based detection makes endogenous biotin background a practical artefact to check (A00830-2 tissue-IHC caption; standard IHC practice).

HPA tissue IHC evidence for EEF2

Comprehensive Human Protein Atlas IHC scoring per tissue (reliability: Enhanced — Medium consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression data.). Rows are taken directly from the HPA tissue chart — click any row's HPA link to view the source.

Positive expression · recommended positive controls

TissueCell typeLevelEvidenceSource
Appendix Glandular cells High Protein (IHC) HPA →
Bone marrow Hematopoietic cells High Protein (IHC) HPA →
Breast Glandular cells High Protein (IHC) HPA →
Bronchus Respiratory epithelial cells High Protein (IHC) HPA →
Cerebral cortex Glial cells High Protein (IHC) HPA →

Undetected expression · recommended negative controls

TissueCell typeLevelEvidenceSource
None in HPA: EEF2 is detected in all 45 scored tissues. Use a no-primary (secondary-only) and an isotype control instead.
Section 3

Advanced EEF2 IHC Tips

Troubleshoot EEF2 staining in paraffin sections by checking retrieval, compartment, background and scoring against the documented tissue pattern.

Which retrieval conditions should I try first for weak EEF2 staining in paraffin sections?
Start with heat-mediated antigen retrieval in EDTA buffer at pH 8.0 for paraffin EEF2 IHC (datasheet A00830-2). The selected tissue image used that retrieval before incubation with 2 μg/mL catalog antibody overnight at 4°C (caption A00830-2). Because the caption gives no heating duration, document the time and temperature used and compare sections from the same block across a controlled retrieval series. If staining remains weak, trial another buffer only as a fallback, keeping antibody concentration and detection constant so changes in signal can be attributed to retrieval.
How should I troubleshoot EEF2 staining when fixation history varies between blocks?
The selected EEF2 image identifies a paraffin section but does not state its fixative or fixation duration (caption A00830-2). Target-specific sensitivity to fixation is therefore unknown; record the fixative and duration for each block before comparing staining intensity. Run sections with different histories through the same EDTA pH 8.0 retrieval and 2 μg/mL primary incubation used in the documented example (caption A00830-2). If signal varies, first compare staining within similarly processed blocks and inspect morphology, since a between-block difference alone cannot establish a biological change in EEF2.
Should EEF2 staining be cytoplasmic, membranous or nuclear?
Prioritize interpretable cytoplasmic staining: cytosol is the supported subcellular location, while plasma membrane assignment is uncertain (HPA subcellular). Tissue IHC reports cytoplasmic and membranous expression in most tissues, so record those compartments separately rather than treating every outline as definitive membrane localization (HPA tissue IHC). EEF2 has no transmembrane segment, and nuclear localization is linked to a regulated C-terminal cleavage product (UniProt P13639 topology; UniProt P13639 subcellular). For a nuclear-predominant result, inspect cell morphology and control sections, then seek independent evidence for the cleavage-dependent event before assigning the nuclear signal to EEF2.
Can EEF2 processing or modifications change what this antibody detects?
The supplied EEF2 record lists 0 annotated isoforms and identifies phosphorylation at residues 54, 57 and 59 among its modifications (UniProt P13639 isoforms; UniProt P13639 modified residues). It also describes cleavage followed by nuclear translocation of a C-terminal product (UniProt P13639 subcellular). Without an antibody epitope map, neither modification sensitivity nor recognition of that product can be assigned to the catalog antibody. When compartments disagree between specimens, compare staining under the same EDTA pH 8.0 retrieval conditions and use independent epitope or processing evidence before interpreting the difference as biology (datasheet A00830-2).
How can I adapt the localization question to multiplex EEF2 immunofluorescence?
For 2-color IF, pair EEF2 with an epithelial marker such as pan-cytokeratin when examining glandular cells, which show high EEF2 tissue staining in breast (HPA tissue IHC: High in breast glandular cells). Choose spectrally separated fluorophores and inspect an unstained section so tissue autofluorescence does not masquerade as colocalization. Include a permeabilization step for the expected cytosolic EEF2 epitope; EEF2 has no transmembrane segment, and cytosol is its supported location (UniProt P13639 topology; HPA subcellular). Optimize IF fixation and antibody concentration independently, because the selected paraffin-section caption reports chromogenic IHC conditions rather than an IF validation (caption A00830-2).
What should I check when EEF2 DAB staining looks diffuse or granular?
First compare a no-primary control with the test section and inspect whether color follows tissue edges, damaged areas or cells with intact morphology. The documented method used 10% goat serum, a biotinylated goat anti-rabbit secondary, an avidin-biotin detection complex and DAB (caption A00830-2). For this chromogenic workflow, check peroxidase blocking and assess endogenous biotin as general sources of background before increasing primary dilution or changing retrieval. Keep EDTA pH 8.0 retrieval and the 2 μg/mL primary condition fixed while testing one background-control change at a time (datasheet A00830-2; caption A00830-2).
How should I score EEF2 when many cell types show staining? ⚠ ANSWER MARKED FOR VERIFICATION
Define the cell population and compartment before scoring, because tissue IHC reports EEF2 in most tissues and cytosolic localization has stronger support than plasma membrane localization (HPA tissue IHC; HPA subcellular). For a defined population, report percent positive cells and an intensity-weighted H-score on a 0–300 scale, using the same thresholds across sections. Normalize positive-cell counts to the number of evaluable cells, or stained area to evaluable tissue area in mm², and exclude folds and necrotic regions. Record retrieval, staining batch and the 2 μg/mL reference primary condition when comparing sections (caption A00830-2).
How do I distinguish convincing EEF2 staining from a tissue artefact?
Look for reproducible staining in intact cells with a credible cytoplasmic pattern; cytosol is the supported location, and glandular cells in breast show high tissue staining (HPA subcellular; HPA tissue IHC: High in breast glandular cells). Treat isolated edge staining, necrotic deposits and signal in the no-primary control as possible artefacts requiring investigation. Membranous staining needs cautious interpretation because the plasma membrane assignment is uncertain, while nuclear staining may reflect regulated processing only with independent support (HPA subcellular; UniProt P13639 subcellular). In the DAB workflow, use a no-primary control and an appropriate peroxidase block to assess enzyme-derived color before scoring a specimen positive (caption A00830-2: DAB detection).
Boster reagents

Best EEF2 / Elongation factor 2 IHC Antibodies

EEF2 antibodies have IHC images from paraffin sections of human cancers and rat ovary (catalog IHC captions); IF images show staining in A431 and HEPG2 cells (catalog IF captions).

Real IHC data IHC analysis of EEF2/Elongation factor 2 using anti-EEF2/Elongation factor 2 antibody (A00830-2). EEF2/Elongation factor 2 was detected in paraffin-embedded section of human breast cancer tissue. Heat mediated antigen retrieval was performed in EDTA buffer (pH8.0, epitope retrieval solution). The tissue section was blocked with 10% goat serum. The tissue section was then incubated with 2μg/ml rabbit anti-EEF2/Elongation factor 2 Antibody (A00830-2) overnight at 4°C. Biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG was used as secondary antibody and incubated for 30 minutes at 37°C. The tissue section was developed using Strepavidin-Biotin-Complex (SABC) (Catalog # SA1022) with DAB as the chromogen.
Anti-EEF2/Elongation factor 2 Antibody ®
Cat # A00830-2
Real IHC data IHC analysis of EEF2 using anti-EEF2 antibody (A00830-1). EEF2 was detected in a paraffin-embedded section of human breast cancer tissue. Heat mediated antigen retrieval was performed in EDTA buffer (pH 8.0, epitope retrieval solution). The tissue section was blocked with 10% goat serum. The tissue section was then incubated with 2 μg/ml rabbit anti-EEF2 Antibody (A00830-1) overnight at 4°C. Peroxidase Conjugated Goat Anti-rabbit IgG was used as secondary antibody and incubated for 30 minutes at 37°C. The tissue section was developed using HRP Conjugated Rabbit IgG Super Vision Assay Kit (Catalog # SV0002) with DAB as the chromogen.
Anti-EEF2 Antibody ®
Cat # A00830-1
Real IHC data IHC analysis of EEF2 using anti-EEF2 antibody (M00830-2). EEF2 was detected in paraffin-embedded section of human breast cancer tissue. Heat mediated antigen retrieval was performed in EDTA buffer (pH8.0, epitope retrieval solution). The tissue section was blocked with 10% goat serum. The tissue section was then incubated with 2μg/ml mouse anti-EEF2 Antibody (M00830-2) overnight at 4°C. Biotinylated goat anti-mouse IgG was used as secondary antibody and incubated for 30 minutes at 37°C. The tissue section was developed using Strepavidin-Biotin-Complex (SABC) (Catalog # SA1021) with DAB as the chromogen.
Anti-EEF2 ® Antibody (monoclonal, 5F5)
Cat # M00830-2
Real IHC data IHC analysis of EEF2 using anti-EEF2 antibody (M00830-1). EEF2 was detected in a paraffin-embedded section of human prostate cancer tissue. Heat mediated antigen retrieval was performed in EDTA buffer (pH 8.0, epitope retrieval solution). The tissue section was blocked with 10% goat serum. The tissue section was then incubated with 1:50 rabbit anti-EEF2 Antibody (M00830-1) overnight at 4°C. Peroxidase Conjugated Goat Anti-rabbit IgG was used as secondary antibody and incubated for 30 minutes at 37°C. The tissue section was developed using HRP Conjugated Rabbit IgG Super Vision Assay Kit (Catalog # SV0002) with DAB as the chromogen.
Anti-EEF2 Monoclonal Antibody
Cat # M00830-1

A00830-2 and A00830-1 each show IHC staining in paraffin sections of human breast cancer (their IHC captions); A00830-2 also has an IF image from A431 cells (A00830-2 IF caption). M00830-2 shows IHC staining in paraffin sections of human breast cancer and IF staining in HEPG2 cells (M00830-2 IHC/IF captions); M00830-1 shows IHC staining in paraffin sections of human prostate cancer and rat ovary (M00830-1 IHC captions).

Which to pick: For tissue IHC, A00830-1 has paraffin-section images from human breast, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma and renal cancers, using 2 μg/ml primary antibody after EDTA retrieval at pH 8.0 (A00830-1 IHC captions). For IF/ICC, choose A00830-2 for a rabbit primary with an A431 IF image, or M00830-2 for a mouse monoclonal, clone 5F5, with a HEPG2 IF image (catalog hosts/clones; A00830-2 and M00830-2 IF captions). For cross-species tissue IHC, M00830-1 is a rabbit monoclonal with paraffin-section images from human prostate cancer and rat ovary; the fixative is unreported (catalog host/clone; M00830-1 IHC captions).

Each figure is that product's own IHC / IF validation image from its datasheet.

References

  1. UniProt Consortium. UniProt entry P13639 (EF2_HUMAN, Elongation factor 2).
  2. Human Protein Atlas. EEF2 tissue IHC expression (reliability: Enhanced).
  3. Human Protein Atlas. EEF2 subcellular location (ICC-IF): Localized to the plasma membrane and cytosol..
  4. Human Protein Atlas. EEF2 antibody validation summary (3 antibodies).
  5. Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 is a prognostic marker and its kinase a potential therapeutic target in HCC. Oncotarget 2017 — PMC5355317.
  6. The translation elongation factor eEF2 is a novel tumor‑associated antigen overexpressed in various types of cancers. International journal of oncology 2014 — PMC4027928.
  7. Rapamycin Extends Life Span in Apc(Min/+) Colon Cancer FAP Model. Clinical colorectal cancer 2021 — PMC7956131.
  8. Coordination of changes in expression and phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and eEF2 kinase in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes. Biochemistry and biophysics reports 2016 — PMC5613342.
  9. PubMed PMID:2610926 — UniProt-cited evidence.
  10. PubMed PMID:1596361 — UniProt-cited evidence.
  11. PubMed PMID:15489334 — UniProt-cited evidence.